Teat cup



L. DlNEsEN Nov. 6, 1928.

TEAT CUP 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Nev. 6,1928.

UNlTEDsTA 1,690,321 1l-,eATE1a1f orric.

LAURITSDINESEN, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

maar cnr.

` application mea November 27; 1925,` serieu' No. `71,631.

` My invention provides an improved teat cups of this cup for use in connection with milking machilies and, generally stated, it consists of the `vided with connections whereby they may be alternately subjected v to suction or; partial vacuum, thereby J alternately expanding and contracting the elastic inner wall. e

My invention has for its ob] ect to simplify l the constructionzand greatly improve the action `of these two-chambered teat cups. Several forms of theimproved teat cup are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like characters indicate like partsthrougliout the several views. y .l 1 e i Referring to the drawings: j i Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved teat 2 is an axialsectionl ofthe teat` cup, showing the elastic inner tube applied in the `metallic outer shell butnot stretched to final position; l f w H, i .WiFi ..3 isa view correspondingto Fig. 2, but s owing-'the elastic inner tube stretched to final pos1tion; i. `1 l Figui isa planview of the elastic inner tube removed from themetallic shell; M

Q5 is a` sectionon -theliue of Fig/ig; 1 Y Fig.: 6 is an axiallsection illustratinga slightly `modified form; of thev elastic inner tube; and .y y l Fig. 7 is a plan viewillustrating a still further slightly modified form of the elastic tube.`

'l What is at present believedto be the prel ferredform of theteat cupis illustrated in turned joint Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. l Themetallic outer shell 8 ispreferablymade from arthin metal tube, which, at one end, hasaslightlyoutflange. 9 andj at its other l end is contracted onto a rooved bushinglO, which latter, though aminorfea'ture, has an imporf tant purposek that will presently appear. En tended,` longitudinally of and secured to the exterior of the shell 8 is a smallnipple-orming metal tube 11 thatis connected to the interior of the casingquite close to the teatreceiving end thereof by an air port 155.-

A rubber innerwallfformingtube 13 1s formed at its teatereceivingrend with a diametrically enlarged portion lahaving an in turned annularilange Aor diaphragm 15.A O11 its exterior, adjacent to` orextending` from its enlarged end 14;, said tubeis provided withV .s

an. integral backwardly andinwardly turned elastic joint flange 16 that-is' adapted toengage over the end flange 9 of the shellS and to form an air-tight joint therewith.` On its exterlor, the tube 13 is formed with spiral ribs or enlargements 17 that preferably donut normally contact with the interior. of the shell t butr are adapted to `be expanded intor yContact therewith when partialvacuum` is produced within the outer chamber formedbetweenthe shell and flexible tube.

At its inner end, the

rubber tube'l?) is formed with an integral tubular stem 18that extends outward through the `axial opening, which, as shown, is afi'orded by the bushing 10. The stem118near its base, is of slightly greater diamctei'ifhal the smallest diameter of the corrugated bushi i ing A10. The entire inner Y0r rubber tube 13, its flanges and extensions, are` of `quite soft and very velastic rubber, so that the large portion of the tubularlstem 18 may bequite readily pulledthrough the bushing;` Fig. `2 i* shows the` rubber i inner tube :applied but not stretched, and Fig. 3 illustrates thecondition thereof when pulled to its llimit through the bushing, and by reference to said Fig. 3, it

will be note-d that the several corrugations of the bushing are tightly imbedded in thecbase of the tubular stem 18, soas to forman kairtight joint and to Yhold the inner tube longitudinally stretched `substantially tothe ,extent showninFigS. y i Y j lVlien' the teat cup is applied, theteatwilhof course, beplaced withinithe tube landthe elastic flange or annular diaphragm 15` will be forced upward against the cows udder.

'lhe teat will thus be very closelyseatedin the 'w teat cup without any harsh application, pinching action or hard rubbing'engagement. Itshould be here further noted that the enlarged head end of the rubber inner tube projects `very considerably beyond the metallic outer shell, and asthe same is quite'iiexible,

and elastic,it will, under thepulsating actions produced inthe milking, be caused to expand and contract or partially collapse and extend itselil to adapt itself to the base of the teat and the cowsudder, thereby producing an action quitesimilar to that produced in milking.

When the teat cupV is applied to the milking t apparatus, the tubular stem 1S will., of course,

apart, cleaned and reassembled.

be. connected to the niilk-comlucting tube, the nipple end ot' the tube 11 will be connected to a pulsator or means for alternateljv connecting the outer chamber of the teat cup to partial vacuum and to the atmosphere; and through the pulsator, already in use and the action ot which is well known, the suction and relict actions in the two chambers ot the tcat cups will be alternated, or the in ner chamber may be under constant vacuum. "Whenthe tube 11 and outer chamber ol the tent cup are subjected to partial vacuum, the flexible inner tube 13 wiil be expanded that the teat will be relieved from pressure and will be tree to expand. Then, when the tube 18 and the inner chamber ot the teat cup are subjected Ito partial vacuum while the tube 11 and the outer chamber olil the teat cup are subject'4 to atmospheric pressure, the rubber inner `tube will be contracted onto the tent and the Vmilk will be squeezed therefrom and caused to flow downward and outward through the stein 18 and milk tube, not shown. The spiral ribs or enlargements 1T on the inner tube cause the saine to progressively expand and contract on a spiral line. Then the outer air chan'iber is open to the atmosphere, the suction produced or 1nai11 tained within the inner or teat cup chamber will cause or permit the flexible tube to contract, and as the contraction will be greater inthe spiral space between .the spiral rib or ribs, the teat will be squeezed with a spiralljv applied pressure having a downward trend, Iand this produces a milkingr action vcrj' closcljrv approximating that produced by the lingers in a hand operation of milking.

The teat cup described, in practice, has been Yfound to be very highljetlicient 'tor the purposes had in View. It is also very sanitary, inasmuch as it majv be veryv easily taken lt has a nxiniintn'n number of parts and no pa rts that are adapted to be easily broken.

The llexible inner tube shown in Fig. (l is like that shown in the views def'cribed, cxcept that the spiral ribs or enlargements 1i' at the interior of the tube are hallowed out at 17 so that the tube is not thicker at the side ribs or enlargements` than at intcrveniner portions. In the `forms of the inner tube all ready described, the ribs` 1T are in multiple spiral arrangement. yln Fig. T, however, is illustrated a tube in which asingle spiral rib 17" is applied on the exterior ol' the tube lil, this spiral being given very nulch less pitch thanthe spiral ribs 1T betere described. In the forms of the teat cup inner tube illi t trated in Figs. 1 to (l, inclusive, the spiral rim orenlargements are of the same matt-rial as the bodg7 of said tube. to wit: of flexible rubber.; but in the torni shown in Fig. 7 the rib 17h is a separately Vl'ornied elenieiit niade of canvas or the like. cemented or otherwise secured to exterior ot the elastic body ol the inner tube. '.l'hc rib 1'1" will not be capalnc ot much expansion or contraction although it ma;y bc quite readily buckled or collalned, but the rubber body between the rib will be reryclastic and capable of tree expansion and contraction and oit' longitudinal extension.

ily applying the rubber inner tube within the shell under normal axial stretch and tension, the elasticity thereof is increased. The outer shell. as is evident, will limit the expansion ot the spirally enlarged inner tube and the spiral enlargements will prevent this expansion `rou| cutting oliA communication bctween the extreme ends of the shell. 'lhe best results are attained by giving the spiral enlargement ot the inner tube increased thickness so that thc intervening rportions ol said tube will be much more llexible than the saidv spiral enlargement. 'these features combine to gire a downward pull on the teat that will closely approximate the action produced by the hand in the hand milking operation.

It is evident that when the spiral `surface ol: the elastic inner tube is radially expanded, the said spiral surface will tend to shorten up and decrease the space between the spirals, and this would have a tendcnc)` to pinch the tcat. However, with. the vspiral surface held against movement at both ends, this cndwiae contraction and closing ol the spirals is prevented. ThisN combined with the outer shell arranged to limit the radial cxj'iansion of the spiral surtace, produces a highly ellicient and thc most desirable. kind ot milking action.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A teat cup for milking apparatus comprising a rigid tubular outer shell and `a. ilexible resilient tent-receiving inner tube, said shell and tube being connected with air-tight. joints at the ends ot' said shell, and the wall of said tube being spirally enlarged between its ends, whereby said shell limits the expansion of the spirally enlarged surface ot said tube and the air-tight joints at the ends thereof serve to hold said spiral surface againstV endwise contraction under radial expansion.

2. A teat cup for milking apparatus com prising a rigid tubular outer shell anda flexible resilient tent-receiving inner tube, said shell and tube being connected with air-tight joints at the ends it said shell. the wall of said tube being' spiralljf enlarged between itsends, whereby said shell limits the expansion ofthe spirallv enlarged surface oi said tube and the air-tight joints at. the ends thereof serve to hold said spiral surface against endwise oontraction under radial expansion. and said tube being formed with an enlarged flexible teatreceiving end terniinat-ing in an intturned annular web and further provided with a backwardly and inwardly turned external flange overlajiping the adjacent end of said outer shell. i

3. A teat cup inflation.comprisinga flexible teat-receiring tube having an enlarged lua inflation, the w l i annular teat-receiving kend, an annular air sealing flange depending from said enlarged end, and a reduced tubular` end havin `an air sealing portion ad'aoent the 1owe1` en of said spirally enlarged between said ends,

4. `A teat cup inflation, comprising a teatof said inflation beingY `said inflation being spirally enlarged between said ends.`

In testimony whereof I ax my si nature.

LAURITS DINE EN. 

